Top 5 Detroit Lions question marks: Can the team put aside distractions?

AP File PhotoDetroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz saw members of his team get arrested seven times this offseason, but will it be a distraction in 2012?

Detroit Lions' veterans will report for training camp at the team's Allen Park facility today, but the questions surrounding this year's team are different than those in previous seasons.

Many used to wonder if Detroit could avoid another embarrassing season. Others questioned if Detroit could at least finish with a .500 record. Long-time Lions fans questioned how many more years could Matt Millen's reign of terror last.

This year is totally different.

Detroit is coming off a 10-6 record, and its first playoff appearance since the 1999 season. Instead of wondering if Detroit can just compete, the Lions are receiving the scrutiny of a playoff team. The words "playoffs" and "Super Bowl" are synonymous when discussing Detroit this offseason, even if used to describe as goals this year's team cannot achieve.

Today we examine one of the top five questions surrounding the Detroit Lions heading into this season?

1) Can the team put aside its distractions?

The Detroit Lions were compared more with the Cincinnati Bengals than Green Bay Packers or Chicago Bears this offseason.

Those types of comparisons will occur when a team has seven offseason arrests, plus punching incident between teammates. It is hard to dissect how Matthew Stafford stacks up against Aaron Rodgers when the team averaged one arrest a month this offseason.

Lions running back Mike Leshoure, defensive tackle Nick Fairley, and former cornerback Aaron Berry were each arrested twice this offseason. Johnny Culbreath was also arrested back in January.

Detroit responded by releasing Berry earlier this week, plus released Culbreath to sign free agent tackle Jonathan Scott. It appeared as a step in the right direction toward Detroit repairing its tainted national image.

Leshoure will serve a two-game suspension, while Fairley will likely receive punishment from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but Detroit faces the task of not using this offseason as an excuse this season.

Once Fairley and Leshoure return from their suspensions - assuming the defensive tackle is disciplined - no loss can be blamed on this offseason. Considering Leshoure did not play last season, and Fairley suffered through injuries, Detroit has already proven it can win without both players.

Detroit may have a bad reputation, but its offseason may not hinder the regular season.